Health inspectors in Bac Lieu Province on Friday opened an investigation into a patient death at Bac Lieu General Hospital, a case in which relatives attempted to beat up doctors.

Bui Quoc Nam, director of the provincial Health Department, told Thanh Nien on Saturday that he instructed inspectors to verify if the doctors and health workers are responsible for the death of 67-year-old Le Minh Duc of Vinh Loi District.

On Friday morning, Duc was admitted to the hospital and he died later the same day. Many of his relatives chased after the doctors creating a chaotic scene.

Duc's daughter-in-law Truong Thi My Dung said they brought him to the hospital at around 7 a.m. as he was not in good health.

She said the hospital refused to admit him to the emergency ward but sent him to the cardiovascular area instead. He had to stay on the floor outside because that ward was so crowded, she said.

At around noon, Duc had difficulties breathing but his family couldn't't find a doctor in charge. Dung and her husband had to carry him around to find a doctor but he succumbed before they managed to find one, she said.

Meanwhile, doctor Ho Van That of the cardiovascular ward said Duc was unconscious when admitted to the ward. He said they could only send Duc to a bed at 10:30 a.m. when another patient was discharged from the overloaded ward.

However, Duc's health turned for the worse at 12:30 and he died 30 minutes later, despite CPR and other emergency rescue measures being given.

Duc died from a stroke and suffered from coronary thrombosis in the past.